Monday 4 June
ABUSE OF POWER FORBIDDEN
Memorise: But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Matthew 18:6
Read: 2 Samuel 12:1-10
One thing God cannot stand is oppression. He cannot tolerate abuse of power or office. As we know, all power belongs to God (Psalms 62:11; Matthew 28:18). Whatever power you have been given to exercise is simply delegated. Daniel 4:25-26 says God rules in the affairs of men. He is interested in who becomes what and how they use the power God has given to them. In 2 Samuel 12:1 -14, when David abused his power by taking another man's wife and murdering him, God was grossly displeased and judged him by saying that the sword shall never depart from his house. That judgement was a fatal one! It is like saying, because you arranged the death of my innocent servant, in your lineage, the enemies will always have a reason to fight and kill your descendants. The harvest of David's sin was beyond the normal: it was extraordinary! This tells us that as a believer, you must be afraid of oppressing a fellow believer, especially the less privileged. It is even worse if the fellow is very dedicated to God. Why? One offence against him could earn you a generational harvest of the same evil you did - making you no different from Gehazi.
It is a very dangerous thing to abuse one's authority. The reason God puts you there or allowed you to get there is so that you can positively touch lives, and improve the lot of those under you, be it in government, church or work place. With all his wisdom and wealth, Solomon only succeeded in oppressing the poor Israelites hence after his death, the whole nation went to Rehoboam - Solomon's son and successor-to ask that he made his father's yoke on them lighter (1 Kings 12:1-4). Is your presence in that position or office bringing smiles to the less privileged brethren?
KEY POINT:
According to Matthew 18:6, drowning is a lighter punishment for oppressors of believers compared with what they will receive for their oppressive acts. Are you an oppressor?
Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Written by: Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Open Heavens Online
Powered by:
Kingdom 28
RCCG Lagos Province 28.
No comments:
Post a Comment